Charles Taylor Confidant Calls For Establishment Of War Crime Court

A one time confidant of detained Liberian leader, Charles Taylor and the political leader of the All Liberian Party (ALP), Benoni Urey, has called on the government of Liberia to prosecute all warlords in the country, saying that “they must all be brought to justice.”

Urey believes that “it should not be former President (Charles) Taylor alone, but all those who negatively participated in the Liberian civil war.”

Urey said he supports calls for the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia because most warlords are living in the country without being made to account for the crimes they committed during the nation’s civil conflict.

The ALP leader told journalists in Monrovia on Thursday at the close of a meeting between the Government of Liberia and members of the opposition that former president Taylor remains the only person who is being incarcerated while there are a lot of people who committed atrocity roaming i the country.

“If former President Taylor cannot be free, everybody should be carried to jail,” he said.

Urey further stated that former President Taylor did not commit all the atrocities and as such if he is being subjected to justice others should not go with impunity.

According to him, members of the government should control their speech and stop criticizing and abusing the opposition as it will not help the government achieve the goals that it so desires.

Urey noted that President Weah’s message at the consultative meeting was reconciliatory and the outcome was positive, saying “it is a good beginning by the president.”

He stated his commitment to work with President Weah in order to move Liberia forward, noting that his remark at the forum was not critical but subjective.

He opined that President Weah should have won the Presidency 12 years ago, alleging that the presidency was not given to him but rather someone who was not the winner.

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.